I had the heatgun set at a a medium temperature and held it about 8" away, constantly moving it back and forth. A good hairdryer might work as well...the plastic doesn't need to get that hot.
After it was warm, you can feel that the plastic is malleable. Be careful with the heat as you do not want to destroy the paint!
If you have the front mudflap removed, you can reach in there from the side with a box wrench and push outward on the dent. Keep rubbing it liberally up and down as you continue to apply heat. You should get the hang of it and see that the dent is coming out. The nice thing about box wrenches is you should have a few of them in different sizes, they are strong, smooth and circular. It works well as an improvised tool.
It's not very difficult, just have patience. It takes less than 15 minutes to do correctly.
Take before/after pics and post them here when you do it!
Resurrecting a decade old thread..... any more success stories/tips for the rocker panel repairs?
The Heat gun approach seems like my best plan of attack.
On my 2013 I Ended up creasing/denting, about 2-3”, at the front near the mud flap. Another victim of running board damage.
The heat gun technique with the box wrench worked great. Was pleasantly surprised by the outcome and results. Just a Small about of paint damage that is barely noticeable. Before and after images.
I think if you take it real low and slow with the heat and work your way from the outside of the damage toward the main crease it’s worth a shot. If your willing to remove/unclip the entire rocker panel cover it should give you the ability to get the heat where you need it. Then slowly manipulate/mold the plastic back to its original form. Too much heat will burn and discolor the clear coat.
